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On this day, 26 August 1977, Irish punk rockers Boomtown Rats played Cardiff’s Top Rank.
Formed in Dublin in 1975. Between 1977 and 1985, they had a series of Irish and UK hits including "Like Clockwork", "Rat Trap", "I Don't Like Mondays" and "Banana Republic". The group is led by vocalist Bob Geldof.
The original line-up comprised Geldof, Garry Roberts (lead guitar), Johnnie Fingers (keyboards), Pete Briquette (bass), Gerry Cott (rhythm guitar) and Simon Crowe (drums). The Boomtown Rats broke up in 1986.
In the summer of 1976, the group played their first UK gig in London followed by gigs in the Netherlands (Groningen and The Milky Way Club in Amsterdam and De PUL in Uden) before moving to London where they signed with Ensign Records later that year.
Their first single, "Lookin' After No. 1", came out in August 1977. It reached the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, the first of a long string of successes.The album The Boomtown Rats was released the following month; it included another single, "Mary of the 4th Form".
Set List
Close as You’ll Ever Be
Never Bite the Hand That Feeds
Neon Heart
So Strange
I Can Make It If You Can
Kicks
Joey’s on the Street Again
(She’s Gonna) Do You In
Its All the Rage
Do the Rat
Mary of the 4th Form
Looking After No.1
Encore
Barefootin’
